Paul Ryan announces US is ready to forge a new bilateral trade deal with UK

April 20, 2017

Chancellor Philip Hammond (R) shakes hands with US Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan outside No 11, Downing Street CREDIT: AFP

Paul Ryan, the US House speaker, has said America was ready to forge a new bilateral trade deal with the UK as soon as possible.

His commitment to a new economic relationship between the US and UK came almost a year to the day that Barack Obama, the former president, threatened to send Britain to the “back of the queue” if it voted to leave the European Union.

The House speaker said Brexit should be viewed as “a real opportunity for our two nations” and warned against China “writing the rules of the 21st century global economy”.

Mr Ryan said he was in the UK to bring a message “that the United States stands ready to forge a new trade agreement with Great Britain as soon as possible, so that we may further tap into the great potential between our people”.

“We want, as soon as the UK is ready and able, to do a trade agreement, a bilateral trade agreement,” Mr Ryan said.

He offered the unequivocal support of America as Britain attempts to secure deal with the European Union for how Brexit will work.

“We will stand with you through all of it,” he said during a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank in London. “We’re going to be with you through every step of the way.”